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2013/2014 Fisheries Program

December 04, 2013

This year’s Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) on White Lake was a great success! Pic Mobert First Nation, in partnership with the A/OFRC, completed a FWIN survey on White Lake to assess the relative abundance and status of the Walleye population. Using data from past FWIN surveys on White Lake, we will be able to monitor trends over time in Walleye abundance and help Pic Mobert First Nation in making future management and conservation decisions.

A/OFRC field crews were assisted by Pic Mobert First Nation’s Lands & Resources Assistant and a Pic Mobert First Nation Crew Member to conduct the FWIN survey. A total of 30 nets were set from October 2nd to October 5th. Water temperatures ranged from 11°C to 14°C during this period. In total, 1045 fish representing seven different species were captured.

White Lake is a relatively large, shallow, and turbid lake. The combination of these three factors makes White Lake a highly productive Walleye fishery. The majority of White Lake is than 20m in depth, which is the optimal depth range for Walleye. Walleye are also a photosensitive species meaning they are sensitive to bright daylight intensities. Given that White Lake is relatively turbid, it is believed that this turbidity enables Walleye to thrive. In addition to these favourable abiotic conditions of White Lake, the fish community of White Lake provides ample forage species for Walleye to feed on (i.e. an abundance of Yellow Perch and Cisco). Overall, these characteristics give rise to White Lake’s unique and abundant Walleye population.

October 22, 2013

The Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries
Resource Centre (A/OFRC), in partnership with Mattagami First Nation and the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), have completed a Fall Walleye
Index Netting (FWIN) survey on Mattagami Lake. The objective of this study was
to evaluate the population status of Walleye in Mattagami Lake relative to
regional provincial benchmarks and to engage Mattagami First Nation in all
aspects of data collection.

A total of 28 net sets were
completed from October 6 to October 10, which is the prescribed number of net
sets required for a lake the size of Mattagami Lake. Water temperatures during
this time ranged from 14.0°C to 12.5°C and an equal number of nets were set in
the shallow (2 m to 5 m) and deep (5 m to 15 m) depth stratums. A total of 466
fish were captured representing 8 different species, including; Walleye (176),
Pike (60), Lake Whitefish (65), Smallmouth Bass (3), Herring (54), Yellow Perch
(84), White Sucker (22), and Burbot (2). The overall catch-per-unit-effort
(CPUE), which is a measure of relative abundance, was 16.6 fish per net and 6.3
Walleye per net. The largest Walleye was captured in Pine Lake (northeast arm
of Mattagami Lake) and weighed a total of 4.3 kg or 9.5 lbs. The most
productive Walleye nets were those set in the northern (yellow) arm of Mattagami
Lake (6.8 Walleye/net), while nets set in the central (purple) and southern (green)
arms of Mattagami Lake yielded fewer Walleye (6.1 Walleye/net and 5.6
Walleye/net).

The A/OFRC and the OMNR would like to sincerely
thank all community members of Mattagami First Nation for their assistance
throughout this project. Mattagami First Nation crew members assisted the
A/OFRC with setting and lifting nets, biologically sampling fish, filleting and
cleaning fish, and cooking at the fish fry where community members got to
indulge in freshly caught fish from Mattagami Lake. A final report will be
generated in the next couple of months and presented to Mattagami First Nation
in January 2014.

October 17, 2013

The
A/OFRC in partnership with Red Rock Indian Band will be conducting a Fall Lake Sturgeon Tagging Study within the Lake Helen-Nipigon River systems on October 16 to
October 24, 2013. This information will be valuable for management and
conservation decisions.

September 30, 2013

Wahnapitae First Nation, in
partnership with the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre, completed a
stream assessment on Post Creek using methodologies outlined by the Ontario
Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP). As part of this project, stream sites were
identified and described, channel morphology and physical features were
recorded, and electrofishing was conducted to assess the fish community. In
addition to this, Wahnapitae First Nation will be assessing the benthic
invertebrate community in October using standardized methodologies developed by
the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN). By collecting information
on the physical features, fish community, and benthic invertebrate community,
Wahnapitae First Nation will be able to evaluate the overall status and quality
of Post Creek.

Site identification and
electrofishing occurred from August 28 to August 30 at three different
locations throughout Post Creek. A total of 14 fish species were captured at
the three sites, including; Pumpkinseed, Brassy Minnow, Iowa Darter, Rock Bass,
Central Mudminnow, Longnose Dace, Eastern Blacknose Dace, Logperch, Mimic
Shiner, Northern Redbelly Dace, Creek Chub, Fathead Minnow, Yellow Perch, and
Largemouth Bass. Site 2 had the greatest diversity of minnow species with 12
different species captured, while site 1 had the least diversity with 3
different species captured. Physical features and channel morphology at the
three different sites occurred from September 16 to September 17 and consisted
of recording information at 10-15 transects that were set up along the stream
section. At each transect, information on the stream banks, terrestrial
vegetation, aquatic vegetation, depth, flow, substrate, and cover were
recorded. Now that sampling sites have been established, future monitoring can
occur at these sites in order to monitor changes in the biotic and physical
quality of Post Creek.

September 28, 2013

Photo: Jesses Commanda, A/OFRC summer Fisheries Technician conducting radio telemetry work in the Michipicoten River

Michipicoten First Nation, in partnership with the
Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre, conducted a Lake Sturgeon
spawning survey in the Michipicoten River from May 29 to July 29, 2013. This
project was funded by the Canada-Ontario Agreement for Respecting the Great
Lakes Basin and other project partners included; Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, Natural Resource Solutions
Inc., the Municipality of Wawa, and Buck’s Marina. This project commenced in
2012 and will continue through to 2014 with an overall objective of evaluating
the population status of Lake Sturgeon in the Michipicoten River.

Water flows and discharge were much higher in 2013
compared to 2012, which made netting within the Michipicoten River difficult
until flows subsided in late-June. A total of 145 nets were set throughout the
river, however not all of these nets were set overnight due to concerns
associated with high water flows. A total of 3 Lake Sturgeon were captured and
radio tagged, bringing the total number of radio tagged Lake Sturgeon in the
Michipicoten River system to 6 individuals. Contrary to 2012, where all Lake
Sturgeon were either captured at the mouth of the Michipicoten River or Scott
Falls, only one Lake Sturgeon was captured at Scott Falls in 2013. The other
two Lake Sturgeon were captured and radio tagged below Mission Falls and near
Highway 17. Once radio tagged, Lake Sturgeon movements were monitored manually
by boat and by two base station receivers that were set up near Scott Falls and
Buck’s Marina. In addition to the three Lake Sturgeon that were radio tagged in
2013, two additional Lake Sturgeon from 2012 were also detected near the mouth
of the Michipicoten River. All of the captured Lake Sturgeon were males and their
weight ranged from 7.2 kg to 15.2 kg. Egg mats and larval drift nets were also
set in the Michipicoten River, however no Lake Sturgeon eggs or larvae were
captured during the study.

Photo: Brian Watson releasing a sturgeon back into the Michipicoten River

The Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries
Resource Centre, in partnership with Mississauga First Nation, have completed
two fisheries surveys on Lear Lake and Plump Lake. The surveys were completed using
the Broad-Scale Monitoring Protocol, which is a standardized assessment method
developed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The objective of
these surveys was to evaluate the overall status of the fish community within
both of these lakes.

In Lear Lake, a total of 27 nets
(14 large mesh and 13 small mesh) were set from July 29 to August 2. Water
temperatures during this time were approximately 21°C. A total of 938 fish were
captured representing 9 different fish species, including; Lake Trout (33),
Yellow Perch (640), Brown Bullhead (81), Cisco (79), White Sucker (55),
Spottail Shiner (36), Bluegill (7), Pumpkinseed (4), and Golden Shiner (3). The
overall catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), which is a relative measure of fish
abundance, was 34.7 fish per net and 1.2 Lake Trout per net.

In Plump Lake, a total of 12 nets
(8 large mesh and 4 small mesh) were set from August 28 to August 20. Water
temperatures during this time were approximately 24°C. A total of 307 fish were
captured representing 9 different fish species, including; Walleye (2),
Smallmouth Bass (38), Rock Bass (158), Cisco (76), Bluntnose Minnow (12),
Bluegill (11), White Sucker (5), Blackside Darter (4), and Mottled Sculpin (1).
The overall CPUE was 25.6 fish per net, 0.2 Walleye per net, and 3.2 Smallmouth
Bass per net.

In addition to the scientific
results that were gathered from this study, Mississauga First Nation’s Lands
and Resources Unit gained some valuable skills that are required to conduct a
fisheries survey such as this. Carla Marcellus, Mississauga First Nation’s
Environmental Technician, conducted the fisheries survey and participated in
the Broad-Scale Monitoring training hosted by the MNR. A technical report of
the project is currently being written and should be available from the A/OFRC
in the winter of 2013/2014.

The Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries
Resource Centre, in partnership with Pic River First Nation, have completed fisheries surveys in Peninsula Harbour and Sturdee Cove of Lake Superior. The surveys
were completed using a standardized assessment method known as Fish Community
Index Netting (FCIN), which was developed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources (MNR). The objective of this survey was to evaluate the overall
status of the fish community within this area of Lake Superior, which has the
potential to be impacted by future mining developments.

Myles Michano, Pic River First
Nation’s Environmental Technician, assisted with the field work component of
the project and gained valuable experience in conducting a fisheries survey. In
the future, Pic River First Nation would like to become even more involved in
the assessment and monitoring of their natural resources and therefore Myles’
experience from this project should be a valuable asset for Pic River First
Nation. A technical report of the project is currently being written and should
be available from the A/OFRC in the winter of 2013/2014.

September 13, 2013

One field crew completed the BSM project on Mindemoya Lake from August 12th to 21st, 2013. The field crew battled high winds through the first few days making setting and catching nets difficult. 40 nets were set during the course of the project. The catch was dominated by Yellow Perch and Crayfish. A total of 2380 fish were caught during the project. The composition is located on the following table.

Fish
Species

Catch Composition (%)

Yellow
Perch

80.50

Rock
Bass

5.17

Common
shiner

3.74

Walleye

2.77

Blacknose
shiner

2.44

Smallmouth
Bass

2.18

White
Sucker

1.68

Lake
Whitefish

0.84

Cisco

0.29

Logperch

0.21

Spottail
Shiner

0.13

Rainbow
Smelt

0.08

Northern
Pike

0.04

Fathead
Minnow

0.04

66 Walleye were caught during the project, the smallest being 700 grams. Some locals raised the concern of no small or young walleye in the lake. The BSM should have caught some smaller walleye if they are present in the lake.
The AOFRC was approached by M’Chigeeng FN with the concern of the presence of Rainbow Smelt in Mindemoya Lake. 3 Rainbow Smelts were caught in 40 net sets. With a permanent dam now set up on the Mindemoya River the Rainbow Smelts are stuck in the lake. Future work needs to be done for proper management of this fish species.

Two AOFRC crews completed the Habitat
Assessment on August 26th, 2013. The study area included the Henvey
Inlet and the immediately surrounding shoreline of Georgian Bay (Figure 1.).
The study area did not include the river habitat at the end of the Henvey
inlet. The approximate distance of
shoreline covered during this assessment was 30 kilometers.

Figure 1. Study Area

The dominant substrate was
bedrock. This is a typical shoreline in the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. There many islands and hidden shoals in the
study area making access to the shoreline difficult in some locations. There
was minimal amount of structures were found in the study area. It would be very
difficult to develop and maintain any type of structures in this area.

A full technical report will be
available once the analysis of all the data has been completed. If you have any questions regarding this
project, please contact Keith Nahwegahbow at 705-472-7888 extension 4 or at knahwegahbow@aofrc.org.

The A/OFRC in partnership with Pic Mobert First Nation will be conducting a Fall Walleye Index Netting survey on White Lake from September 30 to October 8, 2013. This information will be valuable for management and conservation decisions.